Battered and Brain Injured: Traumatic Brain Injury Among Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence—A Scoping Review

• Published in: Trauma, Violence, & Abuse Violence, & Abuse, 2022-10, Vol.23 (4), p.1270-1287
• Main Authors: Haag, Halina (Lin), Jones, Dayna, Joseph, Tracey, Colantonio, Angela
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggression; Brain; Brain research; Domestic violence; Education; Head injuries; Health services; Injuries; Interprofessional cooperation; Intimate partner violence; Medical diagnosis; Review Manuscripts; Reviews; Scientific papers; Signs and symptoms; Survivor; Symptoms; Tests; Tool use; Trauma; Traumatic brain injury; Violence
• ISSN: 1524-8380; 1552-8324
• DOI: 10.1177/1524838019850623

Objectives: The objective of this scoping review is to examine the extent, range, and nature of literature targeting health-care professionals on the prevalence and outcome of intimate partner violence (IPV)-related traumatic brain injury (TBI). The purpose is to gain an understanding of prevalence, investigate screening tool use, generate IPV/TBI-specific support recommendations, and identify suggestions for future research. Method: The review was guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s five stages for conducting a scoping review. A comprehensive search of nine databases revealed 1,739 articles. In total, 42 published research papers that focused specifically on TBI secondary to IPV were included in the study. Synthesis: The literature reports inconsistencies in prevalence rates from IPV-related TBI. There are no current standardized screening practices in use, though the literature calls for a specialized tool. Frontline professionals would benefit from education on signs and symptoms of IPV-related TBI. Empirical studies are needed to generate reliable data on prevalence, experience, and needs of brain-injured survivors of TBI. Conclusions: Findings from this study demonstrate the need for the development of an IPV-sensitive screening tool, more accurate data on prevalence, an interprofessional approach to care, and raised awareness and education on the diffuse symptoms of IPV-related TBI.